If you’re still trying to figure out whether or not you’re going to take that scheduled trip to Mexico, one of the variables is certainly the policy set forth by your airline. Will they refund your ticket price? Waive the change fee? Allow you to go Montreal instead of Mexico City?During the initial flu-frenzy, many airlines set and then revised their policies, in most cases extending the dates during which they’d waive change fees.
For a round-up of the airline swine flu change policies as of Friday, May 1st, 2009, see this handy chart put together by the folks at Airfarewatchdog.com.
Keep in mind, though, that policies might be in flux and that many airlines have announced significant cuts in their scheduled flights to and from Mexico even since this list was put together.
So, as always, the advice is – check your airline’s Web site and/or call to get the latest information. Then – check again.
Source: Airfarewatchdog.com May 1, 2009
|
Airline |
Original Travel Dates |
Changes allowed during these dates |
Voucher valid for alternate destination? |
Comments |
| Aeromexico | 4/24 – 12/10/09 | 4/24 – 5/15/09 | Not Specified | A US$150 fee for No Shows may apply for some Intl cities. |
| Air Canada | 4/28 – 5/31/09 | Up to 5/31/09 | Not Specified | Suspending all operations to Cancun, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta until June 1st. |
| Air Tran | 4/29 – 5/15/09 | 4/29 – 5/15/09 | Not Specified | Call AirTran directly to change travel to/from Cancun. |
| Alaska | 4/27 – 5/20/09 | 4/27 – 5/20/09 | Yes | Possible credit if new destination fare is lower than original ticket. |
| American | 4/25 – 5/31/09 | Not Specified | Yes | Non-refundable fares will be refunded via a travel voucher. |
| Continental | 4/24 – 5/31/09 | Not Specified | Yes | If traveling on a OnePass Reward, call Continental to rebook. |
| Copa | 4/24 – 5/15/09 | Not Specified | Yes | Add’l fees may apply for revised itineraries starting May 30th and beyond. |
| Delta | 4/26 – 5/16/09 | Not Specified | Call Delta | Canceled ticket may be used to purchase a new ticket good for travel one year from original travel date. |
| Frontier | 4/27 – 5/16/09 | 4/27 – 5/16/09 | Not specified | Those already enroute to Mexico, your adjusted return date must occur by May 20th. Otherwise, revised travel must be completed within 30 days of original travel date. |
| JetBlue | 4/25 – 5/15/09 | 5/01 – 5/15/09 | Yes | Revised travel dates must occur no later than May 20th. |
| Mexicana | 4/24 – 5/06/09 | Not Specified | Not Specified | Refund by travel voucher valid for one year from date of issue. |
| Northwest | 4/26 – 5/16/09 | Not Specified | Not Specified | Use NWA.com “Mange My Reservations” to change your flight. |
| Spirit | 4/24 – 5/15/09 | Not Specified | Yes | Non-refundable fares will be refunded via travel voucher, good for one year from original ticket’s date of issue. |
| Sun Country | 4/27 – 5/16/09 | Not Specified | No | Starting 4/29/09, those passengers departing Cancun will undergo a breif temperature and flu symptom check. |
| Taca | 4/24 – 5/06/09 | Not Specified | Yes | New travel dates must occur within one year excluding Dec. 10-24, 2009 and Jan. 2-10, 2010. |
| United | 4/26 – 5/31/09 | Not Specified | Not Specified | Call United to make any changes to your purchased ticket. |
| US Airways | 4/24 – 5/31/09 | Not Specified | Yes | If changing destination, travel must originate within 14 days of original departure date. US Airways has revised its policy and now allows departure after 14 days from original departure date but does not specify when alternate travel must be completed by (most likely within one year of original departure). |
| USA3000 | 4/25 – 5/13/09 | Not Specified | Yes | Revised travel must end by Dec. 15, 2009. |
| WestJet | 4/28 – 6/20/09 | Not Specified | Will provide full refund | Service to Mexico ends 5/4/09. Flights resume 6/20/09. |
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